The following letter has…

The following letter has been prepared and signed by myself. The letter is also being mailed directly to Ken Petersen so that you will have a signed copy, which includes the attachment. Thank you.
_________________________________
July 26, 2017                                      

Mr. Ken Petersen, Manager
Ministry of Municipal Affairs / Ministry of Housing
Local Government and Planning Policy Division
Provincial Planning Policy Branch
777 Bay Street, Floor 13
Toronto, ON
M5G 2E5

RE:    Bill 139 – proposed Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017:
Amendments to the Planning Act
       Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) Reform
      Comments from the County of Simcoe _________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Mr. Ken Petersen,

This letter provides the formal comments requested by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs through the Environmental Registry posting number 013-0590. The County of Simcoe is providing a letter of support for the OMB Reform modifications as noted in Bill 139 – the proposed Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017, released May 31, 2017.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs had requested comments on the OMB Reform and their Public Consultation Document back in October 2016. The County of Simcoe provided comments as per the County Council Report item number CCW-16-366 on November 8, 2016 (attached).

The recent release of proposed Bill 139 on May 31, 2017 introduces new legislation to replace the OMB with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). The County of Simcoe supports the proposed legislative changes related to this OMB Reform as it addresses many of County Council’s comments originally submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs last fall.

If you have any questions or require additional information please feel free to contact the undersigned or Kristin Pechkovsky, Senior Policy Advisor at 705-726-9300 x1986 (kristin.pechkovsky@simcoe.ca).

Sincerely,
The Corporation of the County of Simcoe

David Parks, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning, Economic Development &Tourism

Cc: Debbie Korolnek, General Manager of Engineering, Planning, and Environment – County of Simcoe

[Original Comment ID: 210555]